System, Method and Apparatus for Scaled Multiplayer Games

ABSTRACT

A method, system and apparatus for delivering a massively multiplayer version of a limited-player game such as poker, with a limited deck. A communication and data servers system generates a set of common cards randomly for all players to share, and for each player a set of hole cards drawn from the remaining cards in the deck, but with replacement. The computer communicates the common cards and allocates winning to the player or players with the highest ranking hands. Extension of the method, system and apparatus to repeat the game until a predetermined number of winners are selected. Extension of the method, system and apparatus for use to pre-select players for a multi-phase tournament. Extension of the method, system and apparatus to provide a shared multi-player gaming experience for supporters in venues such as a concert hall or sporting event.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/489209, filed Mar. 23, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to the field ofmultiplayer games. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, oneor more embodiments of the invention enable a system, method andapparatus for scaling multiplayer games suited to a limited number ofplayers into multiplayer games suitable for a much larger, potentiallyarbitrary number of players.

2. Description of the Related Art

Related art includes many forms of limited multi-player gaming, rangingfrom card games dealt from a small deck to a small number players, toraffles from limited ticket books, and to door-prize awards given tomembers selected from a population present at a venue or stadium.Limited scale gaming provides varying degrees of interaction andentertainment, but does not readily scale to accommodate arbitrarynumbers of players. Scaling is desired, in cases, to provide highlyleveraged prize pools having larger rewards than more limited gaming,and in others to facilitate interest in and among a large multiplayergaming community, both for skilled and unskilled players.

Where prize pools are shared among winners based upon the number ofplayers, scaling serves to increase the leverage of the game. That is, asingle value unit invested by each player in a 100-player-games sharesin a 100-unit pool, while a single value unit invested by each player ina 100,000 player game shares in the larger 100,000 unit pool.

For example, a multi-player card game, such as Poker, permits pluralplayers to share a gaming experience at a table or on-line, but leverageis limited by the relatively small size of the deck in play or the sizeof the table as to the number of players that may play the hand. Forexample, a game of seven-card stud requires seven cards for each player,drawn from a fifty-two-card deck, limiting the number of players thatcan participate in the game.

Related art for scaling a limited deck card game such as poker isaccomplished in cases through multi-player tournaments. Typically,players are each given a predetermined number of chips to play, and playa sequence of hands of a poker game at a limited-size table inaccordance with tournament rules. The player continues until all chipshave been lost, until one player wins all of the chips in play. Aplayer's standing is determined by the order in which the player waseliminated, and leverage is obtained by awarding prizes based upon theplayer's standing and the number of players.

Tables are provided to accommodate the number of players, and areconsolidated as the number of players remaining diminishes. A per-handbring-in, blind and/or ante is established to encourage players not towait until they have perfect hands and keep the game moving with,so-called, “action.”

Since the average number of chips held by each player increases asplayers are eliminated, the bring-in, blind and/or ante must increase tomaintain action. Prizes are awarded to a given percentage of players,often on a scaled basis so that the top 6 to 10 awards for the so-called“final table” are the largest and leveraged. The “tables” may beprovided in physical form, such as at a casino, or in virtual form, suchas an on-line “poker room.”

Where multi-player tournaments provide prize leverage, varying with thenumber of players entering the tournament, players may have to play formany hours or days before determining if they receive even the lowestprizes (typically the last 10%), and much longer to determine whether aplayer is at the final table. While so-called Turbo events (fastergrowing bring-ins, blinds and antes) have been used to reduce the amountof time, the events become far more random and require more gambling asthe bring-in, blind and ante grows large compared to the average stacksize. This is less appealing to expert players, who must resort togambling rather than to skill in order to stay ahead of antes, withoutsignificantly improving the appeal of the game to weakest players, whomay enjoy a faster gambling experience requiring less skill to play.

Other related art includes raffles and related gaming arts. In thesecases, a game is played among various players in a common community orat, for example, a sporting event, with winners selected as the resultof a game of chance.

Related art permits some degree of scaling, but not while retainingdesirable features such as interactivity, competition and the ability toassure a single winner in each case. For example, a modern “lotto”-stylelottery game permits individual players to select a sequence of numbersfrom a massive space of possible sequences, rather than being awarded. Awinner is selected by use of a random device to select a sequence,whereby a prize is awarded only if a player selected winning sequence,otherwise the prize pool is added to a jackpot.

While such jackpot drawing approach admits some leverage, there can beno assurance that a prize will be awarded in any play of the game, andprecludes meaningful interactions between players competing for a prize,when ultimately awarded. Such detachment results in many playerswithdrawing from the game until a jackpot has reached a substantialsize.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments of this invention enable a system, method andapparatus for scaling multiplayer games suited to a limited number ofplayers for a much larger, potentially arbitrary, number of players.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the inventionwill be more apparent from the following more particular descriptionthereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of the present invention forproviding a massively multiplayer extension of a predeterminedmulti-player game.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of the present invention forproviding a massively multiplayer extension of a game of Texas Holder.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustrating a virtual or physical gaming arenaapparatus and system of the present invention for providing a massivelymultiplayer extension of a game of Texas Hold'em.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for conducting an improvedmultiplayer Texas Hold'em tournament for an arbitrarily large number ofparticipants.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for conducting a sharedmultiplayer gaming experience to provide a scaled raffle game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system, method and apparatus for scaling limited multiplayer gamessuited to a limited number of players for a much larger, potentiallyarbitrary, number of players will now be described. In the followingexemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in orderto provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. It will beapparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the presentinvention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of thespecific details described herein. In other instances, specificfeatures, quantities or measurements well known to those of ordinaryskill in the art that have not been described in detail so as not toobscure the invention.

As used in this specification and any claims that may thereafter beassociated therewith, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” includeplural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus forexample, reference to a player of a game may include one or moreplayers.

It will be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art that manystrategy games drawing from a random source without replacement, otherthan those set forth herein, may be used in accordance with theinvention to extend a strategy game to a massively multiplayer strategygame.

As used herein, the term “cards” shall refer to any game unitrepresentation that may be assigned to a player or shared among players.The term “common card” will be used for a shared card. The term “hand”for a player will be used for the cards assigned to that player.

As used herein, the term “deck” shall refer to any source of cards.

As used herein, the term “deal” shall mean the random selection of oneor more cards drawn from a deck without replacement. As used herein, theterm “deck” shall refer to any source of information containing adiscrete set of units, referred to herein as “cards.”

As the terms are used herein, a “deck,” may, but need not, be dealtusing a uniform probability distribution, as might be suitable for adeck of cards. Artisans of ordinary skill will note that cards mayalternatively be drawn from a deck with such probability distributionsand weightings as may suit the particular game that is extended herein.

By way of example, and without limitation, portions of a deal, as thatterm is used here, could be formed using a traditional deck of cards,dealt after shuffling in the traditional manner; a tile drawn from a bagafter shaking the bag to induce randomness; a ball drawn from a bingo orlotto device designed to induce randomness, or a computer data structurehaving discrete information, dealt by selecting units of information byuse of a suitable random number generator having sufficient entry withrespect to the conditions of the underlying game, or any other means bywhich a random selection of one or more game representations may beassigned to a player or players.

It will be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art that otherstrategy games drawing from a random source, without replacement, may beused in accordance with the invention to extend a strategy game to amassively multiplayer strategy game.

As used herein, the term “central processing unit refers to any dataprocessing system of, in or available to the provider for managing gamessuch as those set forth herein. The data connection(s) between units andan appropriate central processing unit may be wired or wireless, usingany form, format or protocol understood by those in the art.

FIG. 1 illustrates the instant invention as a method for providing amassively multiplayer extension of a predetermined multi-player gamehaving 999 players, 10001 through 10999. It will be understood by aperson of ordinary skill in the art that this number is arbitrary andmay be extended or reduced as it may suit the available audience for thegame.

In a first deck preparation step 11000, a common deck 11010 is preparedfor dealing for the multi-player game from which a number of commoncards may be dealt in accordance with the rules of a predeterminedmulti-player game 11020; provided, however that the rules of thepredetermined multi-player game 11020 are modified so that all commoncards are drawn before any of the players 10001 through 10999 are dealtany cards.

In a second deck preparation step 12000, player decks 12001 through12999 are prepared for each of the players 10000 through 10999,respectively, after removing each of the common cards 11010 from eachseparate deck 12001 through 12999.

In a hand preparation step 13000, each player 10001 through 10999 isdealt a hand 13000 through 13999, respectively. The hand 13001 through13999 for each player 10001 through 10999 is respectively determined bydealing cards from separate decks 12001 through 12999, in accordancewith the rules of the predetermined multiplayer game 11020; provided,however, that rules of the predetermined multiplayer game 11020 aremodified to permit plural players to have similar cards.

In a disclosure and investment step 14000, an investment 14001 through10999 is determined by each of the players 10001 through 10999 andcontributed to a prize pool 16010. In one variation, a non-player mayprovide the prize without contribution by the players 10001 through10999. In another variation, the prize pool 16010 may compriseinvestments as well as non-player contributions.

In the disclosure and investment step 14000, disclosure is made of hands13001 through 13999 to each of the players 10001 through 10999,respectively. In one variation, the entire player hand may be disclosedat once. In another variation, portions of the player hand and commoncards may be disclosed in phases.

In one variation, investments 14001 through 14999 for players 10001through 10999 may be pre-determined in accordance with the rules of thepredetermined multiplayer game 11020. In another variation, investments14001 through 14999 may be respectively adjusted by each of the players10001 through 10999 before, between and after each phase of disclosureof the corresponding player's hand. In another variation, each of theplayers 10001 through 10999 may be given an opportunity to “fold,” thatis to quit the game in lieu of making further investments to the prizepool 16010.

In a showdown step 15000, hand valuations 15000 through 15999 aredetermined for each of the players 10000 through 10999 hands,respectively, in accordance with the rules of the pre-determinedmultiplayer game 11020.

In a distribution step 16000, value units contributed to the prize pool16010 units are distributed in accordance with the rules of thepre-determined multiplayer game 11020. In a first variation, the prizepool is distributed in equal shares among winning players who have notfolded in accordance with the scoring attributed to the player's hand.In another variation, the prize pool is distributed among winningplayers who have not folded in accordance with the scoring attributed tothe player's hand in proportion to the player's total investment to theprize pool. In yet another variation, the award, if any, for each of theplayers 10000 through 10999 may depend upon the size of the pool and theplayer's investment 25000 through 25999, respectively.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart for providing a massively multiplayerextension of a strategy dealing game dealing cards from a traditionalfifty-two (52) card deck for 999 players 20001 through 20999,substantially in accordance with the rules of a poker game known asTexas Hold'em.

In a first deck preparation step 21000, a common deck 21010 is preparedfor dealing the hand, from which five (5) common cards 21020 through21060 are randomly selected, but not disclosed, to any of the players20001 through 20999.

In a second deck preparation step 22000, player decks 22001 through22999 are prepared for each of the players 20001 through 20999,respectively. The five common cards 21020 through 21060 are removed fromeach of the decks 22001 through 22999.

In a hand preparation step 23000, each player 20001 through 20999 isdealt a hand 23001 through 23999, respectively, by dealing two cardsfrom the corresponding decks 22001 through 22999. In a variation, suchas a game of draw poker, additional cared may optionally be dealt toreplace selected cards in accordance with the variation's game rules.

In a disclosure and investment step 24000, players 20001 through 20999initially invest a predetermined number of value units to prize pool25010. In a variation, a flop comprising three of the common cards 21020through 21060 are disclosed to each of the players 20001 through 20999,who are provided with the option to invest an additional amount of valueunits to the prize pool, or to fold and thereby quit the game.Thereafter, a turn comprising one of the common cards 21020 through21060 is disclosed to each of the players 20001 through 20999, who areprovided with an option to invest an additional amount of value units tothe prize pool, or to fold and thereby quit the game. Finally, a rivercomprising the last undisclosed common card 21020 through 21060 isdisclosed to each player is given an opportunity to fold or to invest anadditional amount of value units to the prize pool 25010.

In a showdown step 25000, hand valuations 25000 through 25999 aredetermined for each of the players 20000 through 20999 hands,respectively, by determining for each player the poker rank of the best5-card hand comprising cards from the corresponding player's hand andthe five common cards.

In a distribution step 26000, the prize pool 26010 units are distributedin equal amounts to those of the players having the highest handvaluation and who have not folded their hand prior to the showdown step2500.

FIG. 3 illustrates the game play of on embodiment of the invention for atable or gaming arena 100 having players 31001 through 31999, althoughit will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that theinvention may be practiced with any number of players. The game playpermits players to share common cards 33010, 33020, 33030, 33040 and33050 drawn at random for the table or gaming arena, and gameinteractions based upon cards drawn by each of the players. Despite thearbitrary number of players, FIG. 3 illustrates the game play of a gameplay with a look and feel of Texas Hold'em drawn from a traditional52-card deck having the leveraged prize awards of a massivelymultiplayer pari-mutual game.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will apprehend that while theillustrated invention presents a game of Texas Hold'em drawn from atraditional 52-card deck, the invention illustrated may be applied toextend many other drawing games from finite decks, such as Omaha, FiveCard Draw or Badoogie. Game play may involve multiple interactions withopportunities to draw or replace cards in accordance with the gamerules, and to fold or to make further contributions to a common pot.Alternatively, the game may entail a single “buy-in” without skilledhuman interaction.

A deck of cards 32000 through 32999 is provided for each player 31000through 31999 at the table or gaming arena 100. Another deck of cards33000 will be provided to generate common cards 33010, 33020, 33030,33040 and 33050 for all players at the table or gaming arena 100.

In the illustration, the play of a Texas Hold'em hand at table or gamingarena 100 would proceed as follows. Common cards 33010, 33020, 33030,33040 and 33050 shall be drawn at random from the deck of cards 33000for the table. Without loss of generality, for each player 31000 through319999, common cards 33010, 33020, 33030 shall constitute the “flop,”common card 33040 shall be the “turn,” and common card 33050 shall bethe “river” for the player's poker hand.

Cards corresponding by suit and rank to the suit and rank of commoncards 33010, 33020, 33030, 33040 and 33050 are removed each deck ofcards 32000 through 32999 for each player. Each player 32000 through32999 shall then be dealt two cards randomly as hole cards for thatplayer from the player's respective deck 31000 through 31999. Hole cards34000 and 35000 shall be used to determine player 31000's hand, holecards 34001 and 35001 shall be used to determine player 31001's hand,and in similar fashion hole cards shall be used to determine theremaining player's hands, so that hole cards 34999 and 35999 shall beused to determine player 31999's hand.

Accordingly, each player 31000 through 31999 shall be deemed to hold aseven card poker hand comprising the common cards 33010, 33020, 33030,33040 and 33050, and said players' two respective hole cards. The valueof each player 1000 through 31999's hand is determined in accordancewith rules for the game corresponding to the embodiment, to determinethe payouts. If any, for each player 31000 through 31999.

Players may be provided opportunities to contribute money to a prizepool before being shown any cards, after being shown the player'scorresponding hole cards, after being shown the flop, after being shownthe turn, and after being shown the river. The prize pool shall then bedistributed in accordance with the rules for a particular game. In oneembodiment, each player will pay 1 unit and be deemed “all-in,” so thatthe winners will share 1,000. In another embodiment, each player willpay 1 unit at each interval after the corresponding cards are displayedor be given an option to “fold,” and forfeit the prize amount.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for conducting an improvedmultiplayer Texas Hold'em tournament for an arbitrarily large number ofparticipants, having ten final round seats 41001 through 41010, and foreach final round seat 41001 through 41010, a corresponding entry group42001 through 42010 having one hundred qualifying entries each areprovided to qualify for a corresponding final round seat 41001 through41010. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill that theinvention may be practiced by varying the number of final round seatsand the number of qualifying entries for each seat to adjust the prizeleverage and skill variance as may be desired by the players.

In a bidding step 41000, players bid to purchase one or more entries fora final round seat. In a preferred embodiment, players are limited toobtaining entries for one final round, although the player may bid forany number from one to all of the entries for a seat. In anotherembodiment, players may be given an opportunity to inspect who haspurchased for each seat, and how many entries before making their bidfor entries. The bidding step concludes when all qualifying entries havebeen purchased.

In a qualifying step 42000, each final round seat 41001 through 41010shall be assigned to a player holding an entry for the correspondingfinal round seat who is the sole survivor of one or more hands of themassively multiplayer strategy dealing game illustrated in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2.

In a tournament step 43000, players who have qualified for a final roundseat 41001 through 41010 compete in a traditional Hold'em tournamentwith the entire prize pool distributed among the winners in accordancewith predetermined rules for awarding prizes.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating use of the instant invention in amethod for conducting a shared multi-player gaming experience for anumber of players 50001 through 50999 to provide a scaled lottery gamethat assures a winner for each play from a leveraged prize pool withoutresort to a jackpot.

In a variation, the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 may be used toprovide players with an individually selected game presentation, or“skins,” so that each player may choose to experience the multi-playergaming experience as one of various games. In this way, players may atonce play a game of their choosing, but benefit from leveraging due tosharing a prize pool with players who have chosen to play games havingdifferent game presentation, but for which the process of determining ofa winner among players and the amount of the prize are identical,regardless of the chosen game presentation. For example, differentplayers may in the same be presented skins suggestive of a game ofpoker, bingo, lotto, slot machine or such other skin as can be made tofit the structure and probability distributions of the deck upon whichthe game is structured.

In variations, selected skins may be static or interactive. By way ofexample, an interactive experience may be presented by permitting aplayer to daub a bingo card or to simulate selecting cards from ascratch card responsive to “balls” that correspond to the actual resultsof the game. In another example, a player may be permitted to selectfavorite numbers as if in a lotto context, after which a result may bepresented as though lotto balls were selected corresponding to thenumbers so that the prizes awarded will correspond to the actual resultsof the game. As will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in theart, many varieties of static and interactive skinning may be integratedin the ordinary course, so long as the prize award is consistent withthe invention's underlying structure of the invention for selecting anddetermining a winner.

In a first deck preparation step 51000, player decks 51001 through 51999are prepared for players 50001 through 509999, each having apredetermined number of cards, each card having a predetermined value.

In a hand preparation step 52000, player hands 52001 through 52999 aredetermined for each player 50001 through 50999, respectively by dealinga card from the corresponding player deck 51001 through 51999.

In a disclosure and investment step 53000, an investment 53001 thought53999 is determined by each of the players 50001 through 50999 andcontributed to a prize pool 56010. Disclosure is then made of hands53001 through 53999 to each of the players 50001 through 50999,respectively. In one variation, a player's card is disclosed to them inthe same or a similar manner. In other variations, each player's card isdisclosed in a style and manner preselected by each player frompredetermined choices. For example, one player may wish to see his cardin the form of a poker hand having a relative value corresponding toeach card, while another may wish to see his card in the form of aslot-machine display. As another example, a player may be permitted topreselect favorite numbers, as in a lotto-style game, while thepresentation shows lotto-style balls being drawn that correspond to thevaluation associated with the card so drawn.

In a showdown step 55000, hand valuations 55001 through 55999 aredetermined for each of the players 50001 through 50999 hands,respectively, as the value of the corresponding card for that player.

In a distribution step 56000, value units contributed to the prize pool66010 units are distributed in accordance with the rules of thepre-determined multiplayer game and a winner or winners are announcedaccordingly as those of the players 50001 through 50999 having thehighest hand valuations 55001 through 55999, respectively.

In a variation, the method for conducting a shared multi-player gamingexperience for a number of players illustrated in FIG. 5 may be used toimplement a shared gaming experience among supporters of one or moreteams, groups, individuals or other entities at an event, such as asporting event, with respect to which a spectator player of the gamingexperience may be allied. Such supporter games may provide bothindividual displays as well as shared displays of game results such asan arena scoreboard or similar public display.

In variations, supporter games may be played solely among thoseattending an event at an arena, or may be extended to supportersmonitoring the progress of an event via a broadcast medium, the Internetor some other public media.

In a variation, supporters would select their alliance and the game maybe played one or more times to determine winners from a prize pool. Invariations, the prize pool may be distributed from those contributing toeach alliance respectively, or may be shared among all alliances.

It will be evident to persons of ordinary skill in the art that theinvention set forth herein may be used as described either singly, incombination with other embodiments of the invention set forth herein orin combination with games not embodying the invention. Accordingly, anembodiment of a multi-player raffle game presented as poker might becombined in various manners with embodiments of a multi-player rafflegame presented as a lotto, on one hand, or combined in various methodswith a multi-player version of lotto presented in the manner of theprior art. It will be further evident that Games so combined may awardprizes as though separate and independent games, or may be combined withadditional rules that depend upon the results of the independent games.

Computer System Architecture And Support

Embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods described herein maybe implemented using electronic devices and communication media ofvarious types. So embodied, the methods described herein are not limitedas to any particular type of computer that may be used to implement thegame apparatus of the invention. In one or more embodiments theinventions disclosed herein may be implemented and/or run on anycomputing device with the computational ability to perform and displaythe results of the games contemplated herein. Such a computing devicemay typically include a keyboard or means for user input or selections(such as a touch-screen keyboard or touch screen buttons, physicalbuttons, pointing input device (such as a mouse), a display device suchas a monitor, or any appropriate combination of input and outputdevices. The contemplating computing device typically comprises amemory, a read only memory (such as random access memory), a centralprocessing unit and a storage device such as a hard disk drive (eitherlocal or remote and physically or logically coupled to the generalizedcomputing device.) In some embodiments of the invention the computingdevice may also comprise a network connection that allows the computerto send and received date through a computer network such as theInternet. Mobile computer platforms such as cellular telephones, smartphones, Personal Desktop Assistants (PDAs), kiosks, set top boxes, gamesboxes or any other computational devices, portable, personal orotherwise may also qualify as a computing device capable of performingthe methods described herein.

In various embodiments, the present invention may be implemented as amethod, apparatus or article of manufacturing using standard programmingand/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware orany combination thereof. The term “article of manufacture” (oralternatively, “computer program product”) as used herein is intended toencompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readabledevice, carrier or media. In addition, the software in which variousembodiments are implemented may be accessible through the transitionmedium, for example, from a server over a network. The article ofmanufacture in which the programming is implemented also encompassestransmission media, such as the network transmission line and wirelesstransmission media. Thus, the article of manufacture also comprises themedium in which the code is embedded. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that many modifications may be made to this configuration toimplement such a system without departing from the scope of theinvention described herein.

Embodiments of the system described may comprise software that mayexecute on one or more computing devices having a computer usable memorymedium (or a computer readable memory medium) and computer readableprogram code. The computer readable program code may include an inputfunction, gaming functions and an output means such as a computerdisplay, audio output, printing support and/or payment output.

Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented asa program of computer-readable instructions and/or computer-readabledata stored on a computer-readable medium. Programs, data and otherinformation may constitute, but are not limited to, sets of computerinstructions, code sequences, configuration information and otherinformation in any form, format or language usable by a general purposecomputer or other processing device, such that when a computer contains,is programmed with, or has access to the programs, data and otherinformation the general purpose computer is transformed into a machinecapable of performing the simultaneous casino-style games, such as thosedescribed above. A computer-readable medium suitable to provide computerreadable instructions and/or computer readable data for the methods andprocesses described herein may be any type of magnetic, optical orelectrical storage medium including a disk, tape, CD, DVD, flash drive,thumb drive, storage card, or any other memory device or other storagemedium known to those of skill in the art.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the methods described heremay not be limited as to the type of computing device it may be run uponand may, for instance, operate on any generalized computer system thathas the computational ability to execute the methods described hereinand can display the results of the user's choices on one or more displaydevices. Display devices appropriate for providing user interaction withthe invention described herein includes, but is not limited to, computermonitors, cell phones, PDAs, televisions or any other form ofcomputer-controllable output display. As used herein, a computer systemrefers to but is not limited to any type of computing device, includingits associated computer software, data, peripheral devices,communications equipment and any required or desired computers that mayachieve director o indirect communication with a primary computingdevice.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, a general-purpose computermay be utilized to implement one or more aspects of the invention. Inone or more embodiments of the invention, the computer may includevarious input and output means, including but not limited to a keyboardor other textual input devices, a display devices such as a monitor orother display screen, and a pointing device and/or user selectionindicator such as a mouse, keypad, touch screen and a pointing deviceand/or user selection indicator such as a mouse, keypad, touch screen,pointing device, or other known input/output devices known to those ofskill in the art. The general-purpose computer

Described herein may include on or more banks of random access memory,read only memory and one or more central processing unit(s). The generalpurpose described herein may also include one more data storagedevice(s) such as a hard disk drive, or other computer readable mediumdiscussed above. An operating system that executes within the computermemory may provide an interface between the hardware and software. Theoperating system may be responsible for managing, coordinating andsharing of the limited resources within the computer. Software programsthat run on the computer may be performed by an operating system toprovide access to the invention along with access to the computerresources needed to execute the invention. In other embodiments, thegaming unit may run stand-alone on the processor to perform the methodsand games described elsewhere herein.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the method(s) describedherein, when loaded on or executing through or by one or more generalpurposes computer(s) described above, may transform the general-purposecomputer(s) into a specially programmed computer or device able toperform the methods or methods described herein. In one or moreembodiments of the invention, the computer readable storage medium(s)encoded with computer program instructions that, when addressed by acomputer, may cause the computer to load the program instructions to amemory there accessible, thereby creates a specially programmed deviceable to perform the methods described herein.

The specially programmed device of the invention may also comprise aconnection that allows the device to send and/or receive data through acomputer network, such as the Internet or other communications network.Mobile computer platforms such as cellular telephones, Personal DesktopAssistants (PDAs), other hand-held computing devices, digital recorders,wearable computing devices, kiosks, set top boxes, games boxes or anyother computational device, portable, personal, real or virtual orotherwise, may also qualify as a computer system or part of a computersystem capable of executing the methods described herein as a speciallyprogrammed computer.

Computer systems as described in this section are well known to those ofordinary skill in the art and are therefore not further described orillustrated herein.

One or more embodiments of the invention may be configured to enable thespecially programmed device to take the input data and transform it intoa form usable by a unit to apply one or more of the methods and/orprocesses of the invention as described herein. Thus, the methodsdescribed herein are able to transform player selections using thesystem of the invention to result in an output of the system such as adisplay of game results and/or a payout.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects ofthe invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view ofthis description, Accordingly, the foregoing description andspecification is to be construed as illustrative only and is for thepurpose of teaching those skilled in the art of the general manner ofcarrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of theinvention shown and described herein are to be taken as presentlypreferred embodiments. Elements, steps and materials may be substitutedfor those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may bereversed or reordered and certain features of the invention may beutilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in theart after having the benefit of this description of the invention.Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the followingclaims. In addition, it is to be understood that features describedherein independently may, in certain embodiments be combined.

1. A method for delivering a massively multiplayer modification of alimited-player game having a set of rules using a data server andcommunication system having the capability to generate random samplesfrom a limited source of game tokens; to securely and independentlycommunicate game information with the players; and to broadcastinformation to the players, said method comprising the steps of: (a)generating a sequence of common game tokens at random from said limitedsource of game tokens in accordance with said set of rules; (b)generating for each said player a sequence of player game tokens atrandom from said limited source of game tokens, excluding said commongame tokens generated, in accordance with said set of rules; (c)communicating securely said player game tokens to each player,respectively, in accordance with said set of rules; (d) communicatingthe common sequence of game tokens and receive communication of playerinvestments to a prize pool from each player in reaction thereto, inaccordance with said set of rules; (e) determining said modifiedlimited-player game results and allocating said prize pool in accordancewith said set of rules; and (f) broadcasting said modifiedlimited-player game results and said allocation of said prize pool toeach player.
 2. The method of claim 1, where said limited-player game isa form of Texas Hold'em Poker where the tokens are the cards from astandard 52-card deck, said limited-player game is modified to permitplayers to have hole cards drawn from non-common cards, replacing saidhole cards after each said player has drawn them.
 3. The method of claim1, where said rules of said limited-player game distinguish “roundwinners” and “round losers,” and the steps (a) through (e) are repeatedfor the “round winners,” removing said “round losers” from the game,until a predetermined number of game winners are determined.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, having an initial step of players paying an entry feefor one or more of a predetermined number of qualifying games, saidentry fees comprising an overall prize pool; applying the method ofclaim 3 for determining a winner for each of said predetermined numberof qualifying games, respectively; delivering a final limited-playergame to the winners of each said qualifying game to determine overallfinal results and allocating said overall prize pool; and broadcastingsaid final limited-player game results and said allocation of saidoverall prize pool.
 5. An apparatus for delivering a massivelymultiplayer modification of a limited-player game having a set of rules,including a communication system and data server system havingcapability to generate random samples from a limited source of gametokens; to securely and independently communicate game information withsaid players; and to broadcast information to the players, saidapparatus communication system and data server system programmed tointeroperate for performing the steps of: (a) generating a sequence ofcommon game tokens at random from said limited source of game tokens inaccordance with said set of rules; (b) generating for each said player asequence of player game tokens at random from said limited source ofgame tokens, excluding said common game tokens generated, in accordancewith said set of rules; (c) communicating securely said player gametokens to each player, respectively, in accordance with said set ofrules; (d) communicating the common sequence of game tokens and receivecommunication of player investments to a prize pool from each player inreaction thereto, in accordance with said set of rules; (e) determiningsaid modified limited-player game results and allocating said prize poolin accordance with said set of rules; and (f) broadcasting said modifiedlimited-player game results and said allocation of said prize pool toeach player.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, where said limited-player gameis a form of Texas Hold'em Poker where the tokens are the cards from astandard 52-card deck, said limited-player game is modified to permitplayers to have hole cards drawn from non-common cards, replacing saidhole cards after each said player has drawn them.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 5, where said rules of said limited-player game distinguish “roundwinners” and “round losers,” and the steps (a) through (e) are repeatedfor the “round winners,” removing said “round losers” from the game,until a predetermined number of game winners are determined.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7, further configured for said communication systemand data server system programmed to interoperate and further performthe steps of: initially receiving communication from players to pay anentry fee for one or more of a predetermined number of qualifying games,said entry fees comprising an overall prize pool; applying the method ofclaim 7 for determining a winner for each of said predetermined numberof qualifying games, respectively; delivering a final limited-playergame to the winners of each said qualifying game to determine overallfinal results and allocating said overall prize pool; and broadcastingsaid final limited-player game results and said allocation of saidoverall prize pool.
 9. An apparatus for conducting a shared multi-playergaming experience using a data server and communication system havingcapability to generate random samples from a limited source of gametokens; to securely and independently communicate game information withthe players; and to broadcast information to the players, said apparatuscommunication system and data server system programmed to interoperatefor performing the steps of: (a) generating for each said player asequence of player tokens at random from said limited source of gametokens; (b) generating for each said player a sequence of player tokensfrom said player's said sequence of player tokens; (c) receiving securecommunications from each said player relating said player's contributionto each of one or more selected prize pools; (d) determining said sharedmulti-player game results for each said selected prize pool for eachsaid player in accordance with the rules for said multi-player gamingexperience; (e) communicating a representation of said multi-player gameresults to each said player in accordance with a skin chosen by eachsaid player; and (f) broadcasting said shared multi-player game resultsto said players;
 10. The apparatus in claim 9, where said rules of saidmulti-player gaming experience distinguish “round winners” from “roundlosers,” and the steps (a) through (e) are repeated for “round winners,”removing said “round losers” from the game, until a predetermined numberof game winners are determined.